Other sections

1. Introduction
2. Basic setup & Power
3. PIR sensor
4. IR lamp
5. IR filter
6. Buttons
7. Completed pics, improvements and parts list
8. Updates

Description

The PIR sensor is a pretty standard piece of kit – I got mine from Tandy however they’re really common and stocked by the usual suspects (adafruit, pimoroni, Modmypi,maplin)

In the first version I had the PIR sensor triggering the recording however for this version I’ve altered it so that it just turns the IR lamp on leaving the motion detection in the software to do its thing..

Install

I had hoped that the PIR would “see” through the plastic on the box however it wasn’t happening so I ended up removing the defractor / lens, drilling a hole through the box to push the sensor through then stick the lens on the outside. It does increase the chance of letting water through however there isn’t really much choice and a big chunk of gaffer tape should sort it out.

Control programme

I modified the control program from raspberry pi spy to run the previous version of the trail cam however this version only needs to turn the light on an off, hence why it is a bit of a mess.

EDIT: Revised version here

#!/usr/bin/python
# Original
# By : Raspberry Pi Spy
# Author : Matt Hawkins
# Date : 21/01/2013
# Modification
# By : G
# Date : 24/04/2016


# Import required Python libraries
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import time
import subprocess

# Use BCM GPIO references
# instead of physical pin numbers
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)

# Define PIR GPIO to use on Pi
GPIO_PIR = 22

print "PIR Running (CTRL-C to exit)"

# Set PIR pin as input
GPIO.setup(GPIO_PIR,GPIO.IN) # Echo

Current_State = 0
Previous_State = 0

# Define GPIO for lamp control
GPIO_LIGHT_ON = 17

# Set lamp on GPIO as output
GPIO.setup(GPIO_LIGHT_ON,GPIO.OUT) # Echo

try:

 print "Waiting for PIR to settle ..."

 # Loop until PIR output is 0
 while GPIO.input(GPIO_PIR)==1:
 Current_State = 0 

 print " Ready" 
 
 # Loop until users quits with CTRL-C
 while True :
 
 # Read PIR state
 Current_State = GPIO.input(GPIO_PIR)
 if Current_State==1 and Previous_State==0:
 # PIR is triggered
 print " Motion detected!"
 GPIO.output (GPIO_LIGHT_ON,1)
 print " Light on"
 # Capture a 5 second video
 # print " Record start"
 time.sleep(20)
 # Record previous state
 Previous_State=1
 elif Current_State==0 and Previous_State==1:
 # PIR has returned to ready state
 GPIO.output (GPIO_LIGHT_ON,0) 
 print " Light off" 
 print " Ready"
 Previous_State=0
 
 # Wait for 10 milliseconds
 time.sleep(0.01) 
 
except KeyboardInterrupt:
 print " Quit" 
 GPIO.output (GPIO_LIGHT_ON,0)
 # Reset GPIO settings
 GPIO.cleanup()

Other sections

1. Introduction
2. Basic setup & Power
3. PIR sensor
4. IR lamp
5. IR filter
6. Buttons
7. Completed pics, improvements and parts list
8. Updates

Description

The IR lamp is a kit from Maplin. I’d priced up getting the LED’s individually and putting them on to a bit of veroboard and the kit worked out much cheaper.

It is designed to be 12v but it works satisfactorily with a 9v source. I have bought another of the kits when they were on special offer so I may end up swapping out the resistors to make it truly 9v.

Powering the lamp

I wanted the lamp to be powered separately from the PI, initially because it is much easier to do but also because it’ll let me be a bit more flexible if I choose to change the lamp or power source (It also helps to reduce the load on the battery).  I settled for a relay kit from Ciseco – as with the lamp it proved cheaper than buying the bits.

I’ve soldered this board so many times the tack has come off, so I’ve had to find alternative places to put the wires! This has become a major weak point of the build.

For debug purposes I’ve produced 2 python programs – one to turn it on and the other to turn it off.

On

#!/usr/bin/python

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import time
import subprocess

# Use BCM GPIO references
# instead of physical pin numbers
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)

# Define GPIO for light
GPIO_LIGHT_ON = 17

# Set light on GPIO as output
GPIO.setup(GPIO_LIGHT_ON,GPIO.OUT)
GPIO.output (GPIO_LIGHT_ON,1)
print " Light on"
GPIO.cleanup()


Off
#!/usr/bin/python

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import time
import subprocess

# Use BCM GPIO references
# instead of physical pin numbers
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)

# Define GPIO for light
GPIO_LIGHT_ON = 17

# Set light on GPIO as output
GPIO.setup(GPIO_LIGHT_ON,GPIO.OUT)
GPIO.output (GPIO_LIGHT_ON,0)
print " Light off"
GPIO.cleanup()